headshot of candidate

Patricia "Patty" Nolan

She/Her

Currently
City Councillor
Election history
seeking fourth Council Term; former School Committee member

More about Patricia "Patty" Nolan

Patty Nolan grew up in Chicago and Connecticut. She first moved to Cambridge to attend Harvard, graduating in 1980. Patty then lived and worked in New York City, and attended Yale for business school. She has worked in corporate consulting at McKinsey and the non-profit sector.

Patty returned to Cambridge in 1991, and has been actively involved in local politics since, for instance serving on the Board of Cambridge School Volunteers. She was first elected to the school committee in 2005 and served for almost 14 years. She has served three terms on City Council and seeks her fourth.

On the council, she has pushed back against "either-or" framing, casting herself as a moderating, nuanced voice within binary debates.

She is a landlord; she rents out the second unit in her two-family home.

Incumbent
Yes
Education
  • BA, Harvard
  • Master's, Yale School of Management
Age
68 years, 2 months
Born in 1957
Voting
Reg. Oct. 5, 1992
History Updated soon, we hope!
  • 🗳️ 2022 General
  • 🗳️ 2022 General Primary - Democratic
  • 🗳️ 2021 Municipal
  • 🗳️ 2020 General
  • 🗳️ 2020 General Primary - Democratic
  • 🗳️ 2020 Presidental Primary - Democratic
  • 🗳️ 2019 Municipal
  • 🗳️ 2018 General Primary
  • 🗳️ 2018 General
  • 🗳️ 2016 General
  • 🗳️ 2016 General Primary - Democratic
  • 🗳️ 2016 Presidental Primary - Democratic
  • 🗳️ 2015 Municipal
  • 🗳️ 2014 General Primary - Democratic
  • 🗳️ 2014 General
  • 🗳️ 2013 Special Primary - Democratic
  • 🗳️ 2013 Special
  • 🗳️ 2013 Municipal
  • 🗳️ 2012 Presidental Primary - Democratic
  • 🗳️ 2012 General

Where Patty Lives

Address
Owns at 184 Huron Avenue
Valued at approx. $2,000,000
Last sold April 17, 1996 for $383,000
inflation adjusted approx. $793,900

Patty on Housing

Proposal Supported?
MFZ
AHO #3
AHO #2
AHO #1
Upzoning Central Square n/a

Patty is "mixed" on housing. While she voted with the majority to pass Multifamily Zoning reform, she also consistently aligned with Councillor Zusy (who eventually voted against) when making the final compromise, and pushed for stricter inclusionary height thresholds in committee.

She's also opposed several other housing-related ordinances, and has been working on a proposal to require height limitations or step-back requirements to protect private solar.

With new development popping up in neighborhoods and new zoning in effect, it is essential that we continue to promote investment in renewable energy sources, but equally as important to work to protect residents who have already made that important investment in renewable energy.

20 percent of zero is still zero. I’d rather have some affordable housing than none.

Patty on Other Issues

Proposal Supported?
CSO
Broadway
Garden Street
Intersections

After careful consideration, I voted for what I believe is best for the city: to return Garden Street to two-way car travel while keeping two-way bike lanes.

Endorsements for Patty

Organization Cambridge? Union? View
Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus this cycle
Cambridge Bicycle Safety

Q&A

Interviews with Patty

CBS Candidate Questionnaire 2025

Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance

CBS Candidate Questionnaire 2025

Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance

CPEC Candidate Questionnaire 2025

Lengthy panel on progressive issues; largely yes/no questions; only 9 respondents. This is the first year this has appeared.

CPEC Candidate Questionnaire 2025

Lengthy panel on progressive issues; largely yes/no questions; only 9 respondents. This is the first year this has appeared.

ABC Candidate Questionnaire 2025

Housing policy, development, governance

ABC Candidate Questionnaire 2025

Housing policy, development, governance

Forums

Panels Patty participated in

A Better Cambridge Candidate Form 2025

Housing, zoning, governance, infrastructure

A Better Cambridge Candidate Form 2025

Housing, zoning, governance, infrastructure

Press

Articles about or by Patty

Cambridge Day We compromised on zoning reform because it was better for Cambridge

We had different takes on the original proposal and the final version. We each preferred different drafts of the legislation. Yet we both voted for a version that was not our first choice. Why? Because we cared more about addressing our city’s challenges and finding a compromise we could all live with. Sometimes leadership means compromise.

Sept. 30, 2025 — Patty Nolan and Burhan Azeem
Cambridge Day We compromised on zoning reform because it was better for Cambridge

We had different takes on the original proposal and the final version. We each preferred different drafts of the legislation. Yet we both voted for a version that was not our first choice. Why? Because we cared more about addressing our city’s challenges and finding a compromise we could all live with. Sometimes leadership means compromise.

Sept. 30, 2025 — Patty Nolan and Burhan Azeem
The Boston Globe ‘The numbers should work, and they just don’t’: Is Cambridge’s affordable housing rule backfiring?

Either way, it’s a vexing challenge, said Cambridge City Councilor Patricia Nolan, because it is broad changes in the economy that have changed the math of building for developers.

When Cambridge first studied raising the requirement to 20 percent in 2016, it showed that projects could still pencil out. Now many don’t. The city can’t control the economy, Nolan said, but it can control the affordability requirement. If it wants to see more affordable housing built, lowering the policy may be the only effective lever to pull.

Nolan filed a policy order last week that proposed the council study altering the affordable housing requirement.

“20 percent of zero is still zero,” said Nolan. “I’d rather have some affordable housing than none.”

May 5, 2025 — Andrew Brinker
The Boston Globe ‘The numbers should work, and they just don’t’: Is Cambridge’s affordable housing rule backfiring?

Either way, it’s a vexing challenge, said Cambridge City Councilor Patricia Nolan, because it is broad changes in the economy that have changed the math of building for developers.

When Cambridge first studied raising the requirement to 20 percent in 2016, it showed that projects could still pencil out. Now many don’t. The city can’t control the economy, Nolan said, but it can control the affordability requirement. If it wants to see more affordable housing built, lowering the policy may be the only effective lever to pull.

Nolan filed a policy order last week that proposed the council study altering the affordable housing requirement.

“20 percent of zero is still zero,” said Nolan. “I’d rather have some affordable housing than none.”

May 5, 2025 — Andrew Brinker
The Harvard Crimson Patty Nolan ’80 Charts the Middle Course in Run for Third Term on Cambridge Council

“I have been definitely a candidate who is very, very effective on the many issues facing us,” she said. “Yet I feel that what distinguishes me is that I bring nuance and a really thoughtful balance to these issues.”

Oct. 30, 2023 — Samuel P. Goldston
The Harvard Crimson Patty Nolan ’80 Charts the Middle Course in Run for Third Term on Cambridge Council

“I have been definitely a candidate who is very, very effective on the many issues facing us,” she said. “Yet I feel that what distinguishes me is that I bring nuance and a really thoughtful balance to these issues.”

Oct. 30, 2023 — Samuel P. Goldston
The Boston Globe In Cambridge, a battle over affordable housing revives longstanding political tensions

“The first [affordable housing overlay] basically tore the city apart — we should not be here again,” said City Councilor Patricia Nolan, who opposes the amendments. “We have been doing a good job of building both market rate and affordable housing. Of course we need more, but a policy like this that decreases public input and dramatically increases building densities at the same time is not the way to do it.”

Oct. 15, 2023 — Andrew Brinker
The Boston Globe In Cambridge, a battle over affordable housing revives longstanding political tensions

“The first [affordable housing overlay] basically tore the city apart — we should not be here again,” said City Councilor Patricia Nolan, who opposes the amendments. “We have been doing a good job of building both market rate and affordable housing. Of course we need more, but a policy like this that decreases public input and dramatically increases building densities at the same time is not the way to do it.”

Oct. 15, 2023 — Andrew Brinker
Cambridge Day Statements by five Cambridge city councillors on the attack on Israel

Oct. 13, 2023 — E. Denise Simmons, Patty Nolan, Paul Toner, Burhan Azeem, Marc McGovern
Cambridge Day Statements by five Cambridge city councillors on the attack on Israel

Oct. 13, 2023 — E. Denise Simmons, Patty Nolan, Paul Toner, Burhan Azeem, Marc McGovern
The Harvard Crimson Cambridge Activists Protest Council Candidates After Racist, Transphobic Social Media Activity Comes To Light

Patricia M. “Patty” Nolan ’80, one of only two incumbents endorsed by the CCC, said she found some of the tweets offensive.

Oct. 2, 2023 — Muskaan Arshad, Julian J. Giordano
The Harvard Crimson Cambridge Activists Protest Council Candidates After Racist, Transphobic Social Media Activity Comes To Light

Patricia M. “Patty” Nolan ’80, one of only two incumbents endorsed by the CCC, said she found some of the tweets offensive.

Oct. 2, 2023 — Muskaan Arshad, Julian J. Giordano
The Boston Globe Cambridge enacts ambitious building emissions reduction standards

“It’s really quite groundbreaking,” said Councilor Quinton Zondervan, who helped lead the push in concert with Councilor Patricia Nolan, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, and activist groups like the Sunrise Movement, 350.org, and Mothers Out Front.

July 8, 2023 — Maliya Ellis
The Boston Globe Cambridge enacts ambitious building emissions reduction standards

“It’s really quite groundbreaking,” said Councilor Quinton Zondervan, who helped lead the push in concert with Councilor Patricia Nolan, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, and activist groups like the Sunrise Movement, 350.org, and Mothers Out Front.

July 8, 2023 — Maliya Ellis
Cambridge Day District’s backsliding on eighth-grade algebra must be stopped for the good of all CPS students

I have written to the School Committee and superintendent with a plea, and I hope all in Cambridge stand with me. The issue: The district should establish a clear commitment that within three years every third grader in Cambridge Public Schools will read and write at grade level, and that every eighth-grader will successfully pass a full Algebra I equivalent and be prepared to start high school math with geometry or Algebra II. No exceptions.

May 2, 2023 — Patty Nolan
Cambridge Day District’s backsliding on eighth-grade algebra must be stopped for the good of all CPS students

I have written to the School Committee and superintendent with a plea, and I hope all in Cambridge stand with me. The issue: The district should establish a clear commitment that within three years every third grader in Cambridge Public Schools will read and write at grade level, and that every eighth-grader will successfully pass a full Algebra I equivalent and be prepared to start high school math with geometry or Algebra II. No exceptions.

May 2, 2023 — Patty Nolan
Cambridge Day Local offsets are possible in amending Beudo: Councillor calls the idea feasible and impactful

We know the climate situation is dire. The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report led the United Nations secretary general to plead for all rich countries to get to net zero by 2040 and net zero electricity generation by 2035. Cambridge is one of the richest cities in one of the richest states in the richest country in the world. And our city is home to some of the richest universities and biotech companies in the world. Cambridge is uniquely suited to take on this dire call to action. Net Zero by 2035 has to be doable for Cambridge. If we can’t get there, the world will not meet its goal of 2050. We can’t give up. There is a path for Cambridge to be a leader.

April 24, 2023 — Patty Nolan
Cambridge Day Local offsets are possible in amending Beudo: Councillor calls the idea feasible and impactful

We know the climate situation is dire. The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report led the United Nations secretary general to plead for all rich countries to get to net zero by 2040 and net zero electricity generation by 2035. Cambridge is one of the richest cities in one of the richest states in the richest country in the world. And our city is home to some of the richest universities and biotech companies in the world. Cambridge is uniquely suited to take on this dire call to action. Net Zero by 2035 has to be doable for Cambridge. If we can’t get there, the world will not meet its goal of 2050. We can’t give up. There is a path for Cambridge to be a leader.

April 24, 2023 — Patty Nolan

Campaign finance

See Cambridge Review for detailed information about Patty's fundraising

TBD
Raised in 2025